Yes, in most cases you can tell. I let them walk. I' ve made a couple mistakes in 32 years, but both were at longer distances, 33 and 35 yards. That said, I think if you pinned down a biologist and ask him this question with regards to thinning an overly out of whack population he' d tell you shoot NUMBERS first and worry about selection when you get the herd numbers under control.

I recently was selected to be on a Whitetail Management Group here in Maryland. We will work in pockets where hunting has been limited or prohibited, parks, land that is to be cleared for development, neighborhoods where hunting has been prohibited etc. Any place there' s a population problem and someone wants help. We had a meeting last night. Our guidelines will be to shoot NUMBERS. It doesn' t matter what it is. If it comes by we' re to shoot until a level is attained. After that it will be more selective and " Herd Maintenance" . We will be working closely with State and County Governments, developers, land owners, companys, towns, Hunter and Farmers Feeding the Hungry etc. We offer guidance, suggestions and a method of tightly controlled population control.

All team members are qualified with the weapons they use(you have to pass quite strict proficiency shooting standards). All team personnel have to pass background checks, be Bowhunter and Firearms Hunter Safety Graduates, You have to be graduates of a firearms course to hunt with a gun in Maryland but the Bowhunter Education for regular hunters in Maryland is voluntary. The members of the Whitetail Management Group must complete both. Shooting proficiency, clean record with DNR and background checks must be done every year. We pay for a $2,000,000 liability insurance plan for the land owners and ourselves. We work in groups, NEVER alone.

We' ve received some very good, favorable news coverage lately. We are a Corporation whose Executive officers talk to groups, testify at hearings and do all the politicing. It should be good for all concerned and especially good in a state that has at times in the past been a little tough on the hunting community.